Weekend picks for families in and around Washington, DC

Happy Mother’s Day to all. Here is a special post full of activities we thought Mom would enjoy this weekend, in addition to the ones below.

Friday

5:30pm-8:00pm: Pajama Party Movie Night at Hillwood Museum
Embark on an adventure as you enjoy short films featuring all sorts of fun and furry animals, including magical creatures, playful critters, and friendly pets. Before the movies begin, relax in the gardens and enjoy a picnic on the lawn. Sandwiches, drinks, and snacks will be available for purchase from Merriweather To Go. Discover treasures in the mansion and then create your own treasure to take home: a box decorated with pictures of animals and other fanciful flourishes, inspired by Hillwood’s art collection. Bring pajamas, pillows, blankets, and cushions from home to get cozy as you head indoors and settle in for the film screening. Movies recommended for children ages 3-8. Reservations are encouraged as this program may sell out. All activities take place rain or shine. Film screenings and the art project are located indoors in the visitor center and C.W. Post center.

6:00pm: Nerf Night at Badlands
Fridays are for Nerf! Join every Friday as Badlands transforms into a Nerf battlefield. Attendees can bring their own Nerf blaster or rent one for $5 from Badlands. Badlands provides the foam darts, safety glasses, and fun! There are parent lounges for the adults, each complete with a bar and a rotating guest brewery/ winery. Cost is $30 per child and includes a dinner buffet. Adults do not need a ticket.

Saturday

9:00am-10:00am: Morning at the Museum: Train Day Celebration
Join us for an early opening of Train Day for children with cognitive and sensory processing disabilities and their families. Morning at the Museum is a project of the Smithsonian Institution’s Accessibility Program and the Smithsonian Museums. Guided by a Community Advisory Committee comprised of museum educators, exhibit designers, professionals who work with children with cognitive or sensory processing disabilities, parents, and self-advocates, the Smithsonian has developed a series of pre-visit materials designed to help children with cognitive and sensory processing disabilities and their families enjoy a visit to the Smithsonian Museums.

9:00am-1:00pm: Tot Rock Festival
OPENING MEDITATION | Mindful Junkie, The Uncle Devin Show,Yoga with Mindful Junkie!, Marsha & the Positrons, Kids Gym with the Mt. Vernon Rec Staff!, 123 Andrés, Pilates with Mind the Mat!, Rainbow Rock Band & CLOSING MEDITATION | Mindful Junkie 

10:00am-1:00pm: Acton Children’s Business Fair
Outdoor market with over 100 young entrepreneurs ages 6 to 14. Shop original board games, shark tooth necklaces, origami pandas, reusable gift bags, milk carton piggy banks, and more! Fun for the whole family and free to attend!

10:00am-4:00pm: EU Open House
The Delegation of the European Union to the United States and the Embassies of 28 EU Member States to the United States will open their doors to the Washington public during the EU Embassies’ Open House Day. Each embassy will open their doors to the public, offering a rare look inside the buildings. The day will provide a unique opportunity to experience the country’s cultural heritage and national traditions.

10:00am-4:00pm: Train Day; The Golden Spike Anniversary Family Festival at National Postal Museum
On Train Day, come and experience the Railway Post Office by checking out the inside of the train car, and learn how train conductors use whistle signals to communicate. We will also have model trains running through the Historic Lobby and the Museum Atrium. Enjoy special Story Times, play with toy trains, ride on a the toy steam train, sort the mail aboard our train and “meet” Owney the Dog, a mascot of the Railway Post Office too! Watch the magical, miniature world of model railroads transform the entire museum. Free admission and suitable for all ages! You don’t want to miss it.

10:30am: InterAct Story Theatre’s Wheaton Family Theatre Series presents KidStory Theatre Festival
KidStory Theatre Festival wraps up season four of our Wheaton Family Theatre Series, this weekend, with our annual celebration of stories for kids and families on Saturday, May 11 with pre-show craft activities beginning at 10:30am and the show beginning at 11:00am. We celebrate a wonderful year of arts with a special festival of stories and plays written by kids for kids. Throughout the year, InterAct Story Theatre visited classrooms throughout Maryland, and invited kids from all over Maryland to submit their stories and ideas for short plays.  InterAct’s artists chose six stories to be developed into a unique collection of performances.  Come join us for a joyous theatrical celebration of kid-fired, kid-inspired imagination and creativity!

11:00am-2:00pm: Spring in the Valley
Returning this year to Spring in the Valley is the amazing team from Safe Kids DC.  Safe Kids of District of Columbia is led by Children’s National Medical Center, which provides dedicated and caring staff, operation support and other resources to assist in achieving a common goal: keeping your kids safe. They will be providing complimentary car seat checks for kids of all ages. Sadly most car seats are installed incorrectly. Correctly used child safety seats can reduce the risk of death by as much as 71%. So come out and have them check your car seats! Kids will have a great time at this event as there will be so many fun activities for all. Bounce houses, firetruck tours, giveaways and tons of food vendors! 

1:00pm-4:00pm: National Building Museum offsite Community Design Day
Bring the entire family to Oxon Run Park! Celebrate the communities of Congress Heights and Washington Highlands at this neighborhood gathering spot. Join youth and volunteers from the Design Apprenticeship Program for an unveiling and of their work since February exploring how to combine design with the voices of the local community to create a welcoming outdoor play space. Talk with teen program participants about their design process and how they worked with community partners to design murals and seating for the basketball courts at Oxon Run. Celebrate community design by contributing to a new mural, shooting some hoops, and more. This program complements the exhibition HOOPS. Free, drop-in. All ages.

Sunday

Check out our Mother’s Day post.

9:00am-7:00pm: The International Spy Museum Grand Opening at L’Enfant Plaza
With interactive exhibitions and installations, the foremost collection of spy artifacts in the world, and first-person accounts from top intelligence officers and experts, the new Museum places visitors in the shoes of the spies. In celebration of Mother’s day, all moms will receive free admission to the Spy Museum on Sunday, May 12. To access a free ticket in advance, call the Call Center at 202.393.7798. Moms can also obtain tickets onsite that day only. NOTE: Same-day tickets are subject to availability.

9:00am-10:30am: Otter-ly Awesome Preschool Class at the National Zoo
Friends of the National Zoo preschool classes are designed for children ages 2-3 to discover a whole new view of the National Zoo.  “Adult-and-me” format classes use interactive learning stations, hands-on activities and crafts, Nature Play, and exciting Zoo Walks to engage your child’s sense of wonder and curiosity about wildlife and the natural world. Pre-registration is required. Please note that classes do not include any behind-the-scenes access or animal contact. $28/child for FONZ members. $35/child for non-members. Registration fee covers one child with adult.

1:30pm AND 4:00pm: Imagination Stage presents “create your own adventure”
They are announcing their 40th Anniversary season next week, but it’s never too soon to celebrate! Book now- these tickets will sell out fast! Experience theatre like never before! Audience members use a paddle to cast their votes on choices throughout the show. The choice is yours, and there are 70 different ways the story could go!  Also, a Saturday 1:30pm showtime.